Featured Events

January 19 to April 14

We've invited spiders and their arthropod friends to crawl on over for a visit this winter. Explore amazing adaptations and behaviours in our interactive exhibit, and join us for daily programs for all ages. Stay tuned for program updates!

Speaker Series: Patrick Colgan Memorial Lecture

Thursday March 21

Join Dr. Mark Graham, vice president of Research and Collections at the Canadian Museum of Nature, who’s presentation takes a closer look at the role of taxonomy today and takes us see behind the scenes to the work of our botany experts, including their part in the historic 2017 Canada C3 research expedition.

WNED Antiques Home Show - SOLD OUT

Saturday, March 23

Do you have an antique lamp sitting in your attic collecting dust? Or perhaps you’ve always wondered if the end table you inherited from Great Aunt Myrtle is worth anything. Come on down to the Royal Botanical Gardens for the WNED | WBFO’s Antiques Home Show and get the answers you’ve been looking for!

This is a third-party event. Please contact event organizers for more information.

Sundays, March 3, 10, 24, April 7, 14, 28

Sunday Brunches never “sounded” so sweet! Enjoy a delicious brunch complemented by the tranquility of the historic Rock Garden at the Royal Botanical Gardens and the sweet sounds of live entertainment.

March 29, April 12

Put on your P.J.s and bring along your favourite critter plushie! Spiders Alive will be open late on the final Friday evening of each month and the last Friday of this special exhibit. Join us for activities, games, and everyone's favourite many-legged creatures.

Thursday April 4

TEQUILA. TACOS. TARANTULAS. Grab a drink, enjoy the music, and experience Spiders Alive after dark! On the first Thursday of each month, RBG's winter exhibit is transformed into a nightlife experience like no other. Join us for pub games, food and cocktails, unique programming, and special guests. Check back for tickets and more information.

Biodiversity Celebration

Saturday May 25

There is no better place to celebrate the diversity of life than Royal Botanical Gardens, Canada’s biodiversity hotspot. Join us for a day of exploration and hands-on fun with local animals, plants, and ecosystems. Children’s activities, special visitors from the animal kingdom, guided tours, and much more await you on this activity-packed celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity

Tuesday June 25

RBG's Special Garden Tour committee have organized a bus tour of residential gardens in the Cambridge/Paris area. Our lineup for this years` garden tour will feature gardens in the Paris, Cambridge and Copetown areas. Some of the highlights include a secret garden in the ruins of an old barn, an English Arts and Craft style garden, a garden that showcases over eleven different types of Japanese maples, and more that is sure to please many different tastes.

Bonsai Society Spring Exhibit

June 29 and 30

Bonsai aren’t just those little plants at the garden centre – join us and experience the beauty of trees up close with 60+ bonsai in all shapes and sizes. Members of the Bonsai Society at the RBG will be on hand to answer questions and share their love of trees in miniature with this display from their private collections.

Christmas Tree Drop-Off

December 27, 2018 to January 14, 2019

The Christmas tree barriers at the mouth of Grindstone creek are helping RBG to rebuild creek channels. Creek channels that have disappeared since the invasive non-native Common carp have been prevalent in Hamilton Harbour. Rebuilding the creek channel allows RBG to work towards restoring the floodplain ponds by protecting them from the destructive activity of carp. This facilitates the regrowth of marsh plants creating habitat for native fish and wildlife. Old Christmas trees are an ideal building block for these areas with fluctuating water levels. They sit on top of the unconsolidated mud without sinking into it, however when they are packed down tight they create a barrier to fish.

As the years go, the old Christmas trees break down and compress further. RBG adds new trees to the top to maintain berm heights that will protect the floodplain ponds during high water levels. You can help by donating your Christmas tree. Just be sure to remove ALL of the decorations. Ornaments do not make good habitat features for fish!

Trees will only be accepted at the following addresses: Below Laking Garden (1200 Spring Garden Rd Burlington), or at Princess Point (335 Longwood Road, Hamilton). Trees will NOT be accepted at RBG Centre or any other garden areas.